Gunners vow never to sell 'irreplaceable' San Siro hero
Thierry Henry, who was yesterday nominated as one of the three candidates for Fifa World Player of the Year along with Real Madrid's Ronaldo and Zinedine Zidane was man-of-the-match in an incredible encounter with Inter Milan, scoring twice and setting up another as the Gunners roared to a 5-1 success.
It was their biggest victory in six seasons of Champions League competition and means victory against Lokomotiv Moscow at Highbury in a fortnight guarantees their progress from Group B.
A draw against the Russians would also be good enough if Dynamo Kiev also draw with Inter the same night, December 10.
Henry now has a dozen goals from 14 games this season, a record Arsenal know is likely to spark fresh speculation over potential suitors for the 26-year-old.
Chelsea's billionaire Russian owner Roman Abramovich was reported to have mooted a stg£75 million summer offer for the player who only signed his new contract, stretching until 2007, in May.
But Gunners chairman Peter Hill-Wood says even a bid more than doubling the world transfer record Zinedine Zidane's stg£46.5million move from Juventus to Real Madrid two years ago would be rejected.
Hill-Wood said: "I was at dinner the night before the game and someone asked me about Thierry's price if it would be stg£50million, stg£70million or stg £100million if Abramovich called.
"My reply was 'we're not interested in selling.' Thierry's irreplaceable and we have no intention of letting him go.
"Thierry's is not only a great player, probably the most complete I have seen at Arsenal, but also a great character and a lovely boy.
"It was a great coup when he signed a new contract. We pay him a hell of a lot of money but he's never come across as a greedy person.
"It was a pleasure dealing with him and we're delighted he's staying on.
"What good is it having one of the best stadiums in the world if we don't have a team to match?"
Arsenal's problem-plagued Ashburton Grove ground project would be given a welcome cash injection if the Gunners clinch their progress from Group B in two weeks' time.
That possibility, which appeared a distant one after two defeats and a draw in their first three Champions League fixtures, looks increasingly likely after the win in Milan.
Hill-Wood added: "I've been on the board since 1962 and this result and performance is perhaps my proudest moment. To win 5-1 against Inter in Milan is just magnificent."
Henry, who will have treatment on a hamstring twinge ahead of Sunday's home date with Fulham, urged his team-mates to wrap up qualification when they face Lokomotiv next month. "We want to make sure we get through to the next stage," he said.
"If Ashley Cole hadn't scored that goal against Dynamo Kiev, we'd have been out. Now we're back in it but we could still go out. We have to stay down to earth as, although we won in Milan, we're not through. So we must make sure we qualify."
Arsenal legends also queued up to heap praise on the Frenchman. Former skipper Frank McLintock, Charlie Nicholas, centre forward turned pundit Alan Smith couldn't contain their enthusiasm.
"Zidane has more natural touches and flicks, Van Nistelrooy and Ronaldo are more clinical, but if there's one player who I would say is the best in the world it would be Henry," glowed Nicholas. "If he had not had a disappointing World Cup (2002), he would have been World Player of the Year," Double-winning captain in 1970/71, Frank McLintock gave Henry the ultimate compliment.
"What a magnificent player, what a feeling it must be to be as good as that," gushed McLintock.
"George Best must have had that feeling when he played against us, to be quick, have good control and be two-footed he's got everything.
"He's so confident and so quick, yet when defenders are catching up he has the ability to be composed again."
Smith said: "He's the best player in the world. He can take on a team single-handed, I've never seen it from a striker before."
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